Improvement in fly-traps



IA.G.YBABGOOK. Fly-Trap.

No. 205,464. Patented July 2,1878,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

AARON G. BABGOCK, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEM ENT IN FLY-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 205,464, dated July 2, 1878; application filed April 17, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON G. BABCOCK, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Fly-Destroying Machines, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is the destruction of flies.

It consists of a platform, A A, Figure 1 of the drawings. made oftwo pieces of board fastened together by two cleats on the under side, one near each end, leaving an aperture in the center, B B B, of about one-eighth of an inch, and with longitudinal grooves G O G in the upper surface, for the deposit of food or bait for flies. I

Fig. 2 represents the under side of the platform A A; d d, the cleats; K K, a flange in its different positions, to be more fully described; L L L, a steel spring when under strain; M M M, the same spring when not under strain; P, a stop on flange K, to act on the spring L L L. R is a spring, fastened to the platform A A at X, and passes by the flange K a short distance, when it is bent at a right angle and passes up through the platform A A, and on the end is fixed a small plate or button, for the convenience of pressing the spring down with the finger. S is a wedgeshapcd catch at the end of the flange K.

Fig. 3 represents a lateral or side view with its several parts. D D D is a tin box, fastened to the right-hand end of the platform A A and extending along the sides, to which it is nailed. The side of the box D D D to the left is open.

Fig. 4 represents a tin plate, E, of the width of the platform A A, and of a somewhat triangular shape, with an upright front, F, and a flange, G G G, on the top and sides. This is also represented in Fig. 3, and by the same letters. V, in both Figs.3 and 4, is a brace or handle, to support the upright front of plate E. On the under side of plate E is soldered a guide of double tin the entire length of the plate, which passes down through the aperture B B B in the platform A A, and is spread apart upon the under side of the platform A A, forming the flange K Kin Fig. 2, and for keeping the sliding plate E close to the platform, but with sufficient play to allow the sliding apparatus perfect freedom of action.

When the plate E is carried to the left the end of the flange K and the catch S are carried under the cleat (1 (Z, a portion of which is removed for the purpose, and also under the spring R. The catch S raises the spring R, and when past it the spring R drops behind the heel of the catch S, thus holding the sliding apparatus against the force of the steel spring L L L. By pressing down the spring B the catch is disengaged and the sliding plate E is shot toward the box D DD, propelled by the steel spring LLL, the front and flanges completely closing the open side of the box D D D, which at once becomes a fly-prison. By dipping the box D D D into scalding water the flies are instantly killed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the slotted platform A, provided with the box D and springs L It, the plate E, having front G F and flange K, provided with the catch S and stop P, substantially as described.

AARO) G. BABGOOK.

Witnesses:

' L. G. BABCOCK,

LEONARD A. SAVILLE. 

